Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Phoenix rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2023 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the Arizona rate. The unemployment rate in Phoenix peaked in April 2020 at 12.9% and is now 9.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.0% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Phoenix unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | October 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 3.9% | +0.1 | +0.2 |
| Arizona | 4.2% | +0.2 | +0.1 |
| Phoenix | 3.7% | +0.1 | +0.3 |
Unemployment Rate: Phoenix, Arizona, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Phoenix, Arizona Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Phoenix peaked in April 2020 at 308,230. There are now 208,578 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 79,300 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 20,352. Phoenix employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Phoenix, Arizona) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | October 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 99,652 | +3,406 | +10,123 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Phoenix, Arizona Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
Arizona Unemployment Rate |
Phoenix Unemployment Rate |
Phoenix Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2023 |
3.7% | — | — | — |
| October 2023 |
3.9% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 99,652 |
| September 2023 |
3.8% | 4.0% | 3.6% | 96,246 |
| August 2023 |
3.8% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 93,344 |
| July 2023 |
3.5% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 89,472 |
| June 2023 |
3.6% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 84,445 |
| May 2023 |
3.7% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 81,069 |
| April 2023 |
3.4% | 3.4% | 3.0% | 79,300 |
| March 2023 |
3.5% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 79,921 |
| February 2023 |
3.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 81,630 |
| January 2023 |
3.4% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 84,476 |
| December 2022 |
3.5% | 4.0% | 3.4% | 88,539 |
1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
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